These events have brought together local community members and at times have brought
people from across southern Ontario and upstate New York. And while successful, this initiative is not
without its problems. Since we are not a specifically Deaf organization we must be careful that it does
not become a place for ASL students to practice. An imbalance of hearing people or non-fluent/non-
native signers would quickly dissolve the organic signing community we are fostering.
Despite the challenges, we believe this initiative is worth the effort. We are doing our part to
maintain our language and collective life. This is the ultimate goal behind the ASL Community of
Niagara, preserving our language and its culture, to be passed down from generation to generation.
While Niagara is not the Martha’s Vineyard of the past, our events can at least be an outpost of it, a
place where everyone here speaks sign language.
Reprints
From All Over The Place
American Sign Language vs. Guatemalan Sign Language
Published in March 2019
https://www.facebook.com/seektheworld2015/videos/2236286723286310/
American Sign Language vs. Plains Indian Sign Language
Published in March 2019
https://www.facebook.com/seektheworld2015/videos/388777805009802/
American Sign Language vs. Danish Sign Language
Published in March 2019
https://www.facebook.com/seektheworld2015/videos/559899897824444/
20 Neighbors of Deaf Child Taking ASL Classes
So They Can Communicate…
Published in February 2019
https://www.facebook.com/TheDailyMoth/videos/384507119014877/
The Power of ASL
8
Winter 2018 – Issue 12